『점찰선악업보경』의 구성과 점찰법회의 전승

Abstract

Jeomchal Buddhist Mass based on the Jeomchal Sutra(Sutra on the Divination of the Effect of Good and Evil) were popular not only in China but also in Silla, Goryeo, and Japan. However, each country, and each period, had a different way. In this article, we compared the contents of the Jeomchal Sutra with the Jeomchal Buddhist Mass in China and Korea. In doing so, the Commission tried to explain why the Mass was historically popular and why it could be implemented today. The Sutra consists of two volumes and was written in China around the 6th century. The one volume described the way of divination in detail, and the last volume described the faith for those who wanted to move on to the Great Vehicle. The Jeomchal Method was to look at the former karma, karma's strength and weakness, and characteristic of karmic result. It was also called the Wooden Dice Method because it used wooden dice. Though it took the form of divination, but it was for the purpose of precept and repentance. The Mass was popular in China, and was also banned. It was introduced in the 7th century in Silla and had its own form in the middle of the 8th century by Jinpyo. He used 189 wooden tags to predict the karmic result, but in the Sutra, six dice were used. During the Goryeo Dynasty, the Jeomchal Buddhist Mass was characterized as a go to Pure Land or a memorial service, but essentially emphasized repentance for the evil. As such, there had been many variants in the Jeomchal Buddhist Mass. The transformation proceeded in a way that sought an easier way. Thus, the Jeomchal Method had long been popular in many places, and may even be implemented in a new way for people of now a days.